Criminal Prosecutions Division

Manage a team of 150 experienced child welfare and social work specialists who screen cases, provide real time quality assurance, handle appeals and help form investigations policy.Testified before House and Senate Committees regarding efforts to prevent the sex trafficking of recover children who run from foster care. Helped educate staff about the vulnerability of foster children to commercial sexual exploitation. From 2014-2015 6,300 staff were trained in recognizing signs of human trafficking in children. Changed policy to prioritize and expedite the recovery of children who run away from foster care. Facilitated the entry of a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) in 2014 making Texas the second state in the nation to commit to reporting all missing foster children to the Center.Give presentations to other agencies, college students, and social workers on the intersection of child welfare and human trafficking. Speaker at the annual Crimes Against Children Conference in Dallas on the subject of the illicit practice of the "rehoming" (and subsequent sexual exploitation) of adopted children.Strengthened agency relationships with the Austin Police Department, Department of Public Safety, Child Advocacy Centers-Texas, the Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Western District, and NCMEC. Trained over 1,000 Austin Police Department officers and 200 Department of Public Safety Patrol Officers as part of the Interdiction for the Protection of Children Training.

Cross-designated as a SAUSA to handle child and adult sex trafficking and child pornography cases from the Grand Jury stage through discovery, plea and/or jury trial.

Felony prosecutor of child exploitation cases throughout Texas. As Section Chief, led a group of six experienced child abuse and human trafficking prosecutors. Successfully prosecuted cult leader Warren Jeffs and his lieutenants for multiple crimes against children. Presented cases to grand jury, handled discovery requests and tried cases to judge or jury. Trained law enforcement on legal issues. Nominated, along with the YFZ prosecution trial team, for the Texan of the Year Award presented by the Dallas Morning News. Testified at the Capitol as a resource witness on criminal jurisprudence issues.

Prosecuted crimes involving injury to children, sexual assault and violent offenses. Screened cases, prepared for trial, tried cases to court or jury, and responded to appeals. Adjudicated juvenile offenders, including screening the cases and representing the State in hearings and trials. Represented the State in civil conservatorship and termination of parental rights cases.

Handled a docket of personal injury and subrogation cases. Conducted discovery, took depositions, reviewed documents, drafted pleadings, argued motions, attended mediations, settled, and tried cases to juries.

Prosecuted misdemeanor cases. Handled large docket of cases set for trial. Interviewed witnesses, reviewed evidence, negotiated plea settlements, and tried cases to a judge or jury.